Newport Folk Festival 2016

      

2016 had everything we folk would expect; on stage collaborations, secret guests and up and coming artists.

But this year was the year of country! As time goes on, we lose more and more music legends. Kris Kristofferson was a "must see" on our list. As you have heard by now, the man himself played a surprise 3 song set as part of the "Texas Gentleman." Margo Price played a memorable Janis Joplin during "Me and Bobby McGee" before her own set on the Quad Stage. "If it sounds country, man, that's what it is, it's a country song" Kris Kristofferson (re: Me and Bobby McGee).
Mr. Kristofferson gave everyone warm fuzzies when he commented "it takes me back."

Other notable country acts included: JP Harris, John Moreland, Margo Price, and Ian Fitzgerald - all of which played the smaller Museum Stage last year. 2016 probably had more pedal steel than we've seen before at the festival. JP HarrisIan FitzgeraldThe type of acts you would definitely see in darker honky tonks, (I'm looking at you Tractor Tavern, Seattle) but out and about in broad daylight. Ian Fitzgerald was definitely a favorite this year, with a poker face, the best hair at Newport and a train-like sound reminiscent of Johnny Cash and Whiskeytown. "We had big plans to bathe ourselves in denim but it's real hot." Hot it was! Our sunburns have sunburns.

Margo Price threatened everyone with "shit kicking country" and she did deliver, reminiscent of country greats Emmylou Harris with the feisty lyrics of Loretta Lynn. Margo PriceA rather entertaining set with fast guitar playing, many reference to crooked Nashville and whiskey. No NFF set would be complete without a cover song to pay tribute to those that came before. Margo did a fitting cover of Gram Parsons' Las Vegas to round out the show.

First timers the Cactus Blossom were a refreshing sound on the hottest year we can recall. The brothers, complete with a full band, have a sound that is reminiscent of something old yet hard to pinpoint. Was that a cowbell?

The lesser known Museum stage is where we at VV can often be found. Never disappointing, we caught Shovels and Rope testing out some new material, and doing some real life talk about becoming parents and caring for aging parents with Alzheimer's. On becoming a mom, Carrie Ann said "it is so mundane and happens to everyone" but obviously in awe of recent happenings. We also caught a few Newport alum onstage including Elvis Perkins and Langhorne Slim.

Matthew Logan Vasquez, of Delta Spirit, Middle Brother, and generally known as Newport royalty brought it solo this year. Not one who generally plays alone, MLV brought on stage collaborations from Fruit Bats and also the Parkington sisters of Cape Cod to do a cover of "Angel from Montgomery" and also threw in a Dwight Yoakam cover, because, why not?
PS- his wife made that bedazzled jacket
Matthew Logan Vasquez
Later, joined onstage by the rest of Middle Brother, at one point MLV sported a homemade hat that read "Dad," a reminder that the Newport family is growing.

Middle Brother
Ryan Adams graced us with his presence again this year, and brought along backing band The Infamous String Dusters with Nicki Bluhm. Adams played his hits with a country/bluegrass twang. This set was exactly what we were craving after the alternative 2014 set which featured newer, harder tracks with a couple of the songs we all know and love mixed in.

Just walking around the festival, one might catch memorable bits here and there of other sets. We happened to catch River Weiss' cover of Airline to Heaven by Woody Guthrie via Wilco. By chance we also heard Graham Nash doing Our House.

Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros was the Sunday finale for us at VV. After getting a late start, they put on a flawless show with all of the songs and energy one would expect.

Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros